Wesley Methodist Church Information Page

Wesley Nemorial Methodist Church Title Graphic

How it all started...

Wesley Nemorial Methodist Church in 1910

On 8^th March 1743, John Wesley preached his first sermon to the inhabitants of a little village called Chowdene, whose men were colliers. Their leisure time was spent at cockfights so Wesley's gatherings were often disrupted by ruffians, but his preaching converted many of them.
He was back again on 23^rd February 1745 riding and walking through thick snow.
By 1754 a preaching house was built at Low Fell through the generosity of William Bell. It was the first Methodist Chapel in County Durham. The floor was flagged, its seats without backs and was illuminated by tallow candles.
Near the door of the old chapel grew a tree under which Wesley preached, as the building was too small to shelter everyone there. A huge stone by the door was used to stand on for preaching (and incidentally for mounting his horse).
In 1789 a Sunday school was formed.
Finally in 1882 a new sanctuary on Durham Road, Low Fell, superseded the old chapel. Described in "The History, Topography and Directory of County Durham" as a "neat structure in early English style with nave, choir or organ gallery and the front flanked by two octagonal towers. The interior being galleried on three sides and over that containing the organ is a fine pointed arch. All windows are lancet type filled with toned glass. Well fitted with pitch pine and seats 650 persons."
Sunday school premises - the Southern Memorial Hall, followed this a few years later. The huge stone on which Wesley stood was engraved and mounted into the west wall of the Hall. The cost of building the Church was £4,000 and the Sunday Schools cost £750.
In 1898 the stone from the old chapel was redressed and built into the Wesley Manse, which fittingly stands on the historic site the quaint old chapel occupied. (The Wesley Manse, on Church Road, is now a private residence).
In 1910, it was found that the premises were still inadequate so that it was decided to extend the Southern Memorial Hall as fully as the land available would permit. At a cost of £2,500, there was added a large room furnished as a primary department of the Sunday school, and used as an institute during the week, a reading-room vestry, a commodious lecture hall, a ladies parlour, three new Sunday school vestries, a kitchen, cloakroom and lavatories. In addition, a hot water heating apparatus, with provision for extension to the Church, was installed, and the steps and entrances to the Church were remodelled. Skylights and modern glazing were introduced to the hall. The trust had just £149 available in hand when the work was agreed.
In 1927 the Scout Group was formed and in 1936 the wooden Scout hut was erected behind the church. In the 1960's new floors were laid in the Main Hall and the Upper Hall and in the 1970's the store cupboard for the gymnasium equipment was converted into a kitchen, and the Miller Youth Centre built. More recently the Main Hall roof was renewed and new heating introduced.
All this was not just maintaining the premises but improving them to match the current needs of the whole community roll. On 7^th October 1997 the Church Council agreed to embark on a major new refit of the Church Hall Premises and fund raising began.
On 9^th April 2005 we are celebrating the completion of this work.

Our new amenities include the following:

A ramp, to give improved access for parents with small children, older people and wheel chair users, from Durham Road to a new entrance door and foyer. This new entrance gives access to the Lower Hall and to a staircase, which leads to the other levels.
A new staircase, incorporating a chair lift, which enables older people and wheelchair users to easily reach all levels of the building.
Two new self catering kitchens, which are situated in the Upper Hall and the Main Hall and a new Coffee Bar facility in the Lower Hall.
A suite of children's toilets in the Lower Hall, and a unisex adult/wheelchair user toilet, which includes baby changing facilities, next to the Main Hall.
New Ladies toilets, Gent's toilets and a unisex adult/wheelchair user toilet, which includes baby changing facilities, next to the Main Hall.
A new unisex adult/wheelchair user toilet beside the Upper Hall.
An enclosed corridor, with a conservatory style roof, between the Church and the Hall, giving indoor access to all toilets and kitchens.

Each level of the Church Hall building therefore has its own toilets, independent kitchen facility and is fully accessible to wheelchair users by means of the chair lift.